Alan Silva & William Parker: A Hero's Welcome: Pieces For Rare Occasions

All ironies aside, A Hero's Welcome combines elements of classical composition and jazz improvisation in a totally unique way. Put it this way: Silva dedicated the work to Sun Ra and the great string players of the 20th century. That's the combination to think about. Silva's vision combines orchestral arrangements (delivered via sampler) with live midi keyboard and acoustic piano. Meanwhile Parker contributes his signature bass support. Composed and improvised strands interweave and exchange roles; harsh electronic sounds trade off with warm acoustic tones. Silva and Parker stretch dissonance to new extremes, without abandoning a very grounded sense of harmony. In the music that's available today, jazz and live electronics rarely mix. For those with an interest in this growing field, A Hero's Welcome promises to surprise and intrigue.